Blood Services pilots clinic in Colwood

West Shore residents are being asked for their blood in a pilot blood clinic program in Colwood.

With the West Shore such a fast growing community, Canadian Blood Services wants to become more accessible to residents in the area.

“We try to make it as easy as possible,” said Catherine Sloot, Canadian Blood Services partnership specialist. “We need to get to these growing areas.”

The Church of the Advent is hosting four blood clinics this year. The first is tomorrow, April 12. The others are scheduled for Aug. 2, Sept. 27 and Nov. 22.

For this program to be viable, 54 donations need to be collected at each clinic. Because not everyone who arrives will be eligible for donation for various reasons, Blood Services needs about 80 to 90 people to attend each clinic.

Blood drives have been held at Royal Roads University in the past, but Sloot explained they was well attended by staff and students, but not the general public.

“We didn’t want to just rely on students and faculty,” Sloot said.

These clinics are being held at the Church of the Advent, near Royal Roads campus, in hopes of having past donors from the university come to the church, and new donors as well.

Anyone interested in donating blood is advised to make an appointment.

If these four clinics are successful, Canadian Blood Services will continue the program.

“It truly is something we all have in us to give,” Sloot said.

reporter@goldstreamgazette.com

When & Where

West Shore blood donor clinic is April 12 at the Church of the Advent, 510 Mount View Ave., 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.